‘Bulletin No. 7 _ May 26, 1920, 
Bass et M. M. LEIGHTON | 
39, 65/4: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANT. 
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL APPAIRS 
James F. Woodward, Secretary 


BURBAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
George H. Ashley, State Geologist 


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A HICH-GRADE BUILDING STONE IN GREENE COUNTY. 
By 


George H. Ashley 





Recent studies by the State Geological Survey reveal the fact 
that hidden away in Greene County is what may prove to be one of the 
finest general building stones in the State. 

The most popular building stone in the United States today is the 
limestone from Bedford, Indiana and Bowling pvsonh Kentucky. ‘This 
Stone is light gray and even grained, differing from most limestones 


in having a grain like sandstone. . It is massive, so that blocks of 


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any dimension can be cuarried, and is soft enough to be worked readily, 
but it hardens on exposure. It can be carved into statuary or orna- re 
mental trimmings and keeps its color. Because of these qualities the 
Bedfora Stone is usec from one end of the country to the other. 
Phe stone in Greene County so closely resenbles the Bedford stone 
a) that average person Hote not tell them avart. The Greene County 
product however is a sandstone and therefore has en advantage in thet . 
it is not affected in the same way aS limestone. It is the same even 


light eray as the Bedford stone, and buildings in Waynesburg erected .. 


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15 or 20 years ago showing neither iron streaks or other stains indi- 
cate that in a rural district the color remains as clear as in the 
freshly quarried stone. 

The Greene County stone is massive bedded and remarkably even- 
prained both with and across the bedding. Blocks can be gotten out as 
large eS can be handled. The stone is soft and easily worked when 
freshly quarried but the surface hardens with time. Tool marks on the 
Stone in buildings 15 or 20 years old still show as sharp as when cut, 
The stone neither spalls nor weathers and can be cut into statuary or 
ornamental pieces, as shown by the Soldiers and Sailors monument at 
Waynesburg. 

Indeed, the Greene County stone seems to be ideal for office 
buildings, residences and monuments. It has however at present, two 
hancicayvs, So far as yet tracec, it lies in the hill in such a way as 
to require underground mining or very heavy stripping. In the second 
place. Waynesburg, near which the stone has been quarried, is connected 
with the outside world only by a narrow gauge railroad, 

These facts were brought out in a recent preliminary study of the 
stone by J. French Robinson, Geologist of the State Survey in the 
Devartinent of Interme1l Affairs, The Survey plens to extend its study 
to determine whether the stone occurs only in a pocket or whether 
stone of Similar character is widespread. If the latter proves to be 
the face, doubtless places will be found where the stone can be 


quarried cheaper. 





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